Depression is a common disorder that affects your mental health. It shows up as anger or sadness. If it turns worse, it can ruin your ability to focus and can bring down your productivity levels. This mental health condition can also have an adverse impact on your physical health. It is known to aggravate your physical condition, especially if you are diabetic or have a clinical history of cardiac ailments, bone disorders, overweight, etc. Medical research suggests that various autoimmune conditions such as cancers or arthritis may deteriorate further if you are under a persistent spell of depression. Celexa is one of the widely used antidepressant medications. You may however need to know the possible side effects of using celexa.
If you are feeling low or down at some point in time, it is quite a normal thing to happen. All of us go through such testing times in our lives. It becomes a mental health condition only when it is occurring in a routine manner. This mental condition needs to be taken seriously. If this condition is left untreated, you will only make it get worse.
Signs of depression
This mental condition shows up as a persistent spell of being in a state of sadness. The signs however are different for children, women and men. Among children, it appears as persistent crying, being lonely or avoiding group activities, insomnia or sleeping in excess, gastric problems such as indigestion, etc. It may also make it difficult for children to concentrate and focus on their studies. Women may report a feeling of emptiness, suicidal thoughts, delayed actions (especially to think or to speak), drop in their stamina levels, muscular cramps, sudden gain or loss of bodyweight, etc.
Among men, this condition manifests as being restless or excessively anxious, sadness, suicidal instincts, substance abuse (such as excessive drinking, etc.), loss or a significant decline in libido, disturbed sleeping patterns, tiredness and headache.
What are the triggers of depression?
Studies of mental health reveal a few common triggers for this condition. These include incidence of mood-based disorders as part of your family’s clinical history, substance abuse, suffering from chronic ailments or pains, trauma experienced during childhood, etc. Brain studies show if your brain’s frontal lobe is not very active, you are most likely to feel low or depressed; but, studies remain inconclusive whether an inactive front-lobe is a cause or an effect.
This mental disorder can be either a persistent / chronic condition or a major depressive condition. Its chronic form is often a moderate variant of this mood disorder. People suffering from this persistent or chronic form may have a very low level of self-respect or esteem and may lead a hopeless existence.
On the other hand, major depressive condition is an acute form of this mood-based disorder. This is characterised by inability to stay focused, frequent thoughts about committing suicide, sleeping problems (either being sleepless all through the night or sleeping for long hours), etc. If you experience most of these signs for a fortnight or more, it may be due to a major depressive condition.
Celexa for the treatment of depression
Depression can be treated through the administration of antidepressant drugs, antipsychotic medicines or anxiety-reducing medications. Celexa (generic name – Citalopram) is a widely used antidepressant drug. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The key function of this drug is to maintain the balance of a chemical present in your brain called serotonin.
So, what is serotonin? It is a neuro-transmitting agent which helps send messages between your neurons. Once the content is delivered, cells in your brain need to bring the agent back. Without recalling the neuro-transmitting agent, sending the next signal becomes difficult. This activity is known as reuptake of serotonin. Antidepressants falling under the SSRI genre prevent the recalling of the transmitters. By this, there is more serotonin to send the signals in a proper manner. It is of greater significance because depression is known to occur when cells in your brain – i.e., those responsible for mood regulation through serotonin – are not functioning well. In essence, your brain has more amounts of a selective type of serotonin; this in turn regulates your mental condition and thus minimizes mood swings.
Possible side effects of celexa
Celexa is taken only once each day, either without or with food. It can be taken either in the evening or in the morning. You are advised to seek needful inputs from your treating doctor about the timing of dosage. If you experience an improvement in your mental condition, never stop taking the drug without the consent of your treating doctor. It may consume anytime between two to five weeks to start experiencing some benefits due to this drug’s action. In order to get the entire benefits, you may be advised to take this drug for a few weeks.
Common side effects of this medicine are weariness, excessive spell of sweating, dizziness, blurring of eyesight, dehydration (marked by dryness of mouth) and nausea. You may also feel sleepy and hence you can catch yourself yawning often. If you experience these side effects for long, you are advised to inform your pharmacist or the treating doctor immediately. Though most people taking celexa report no major reactions, some of the severe side effects are decrease or absence of libido, bleeding and tremors.
Very rare side effects of celexa
Extremely serious or very acute side effects are rare. Such rare signs include irregular or fast heartbeats, vomiting, darkened stool and convulsions. A few other very-acute signs are changes in eyesight – such as, seeing a spectrum of colors especially near sources of light. Very rarely, this medicine may lead to a condition of serotonin toxicity. This occurs when serotonin level breaches its optimal level in your brain. The likely incidence of such toxicity is possible when you are also consuming other medications which work to enhance serotonin levels in your brain. Hence, it becomes extremely important to tell your pharmacist and your doctor about the other drugs you are currently consuming.
Men may – though very rarely – complain about a prolonged spell of penile erection. This painful experience may last for nearly 4 hours or maybe even longer. Upon noticing such signs, you are advised to stop taking this medication and see your doctor before it triggers other possible complications. Also, if you happen to experience reactions such as extreme levels of being lightheaded, acute spell of stomach pain, nausea accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting, etc., it is a good practice to seek medical help without delay.
If you notice very acute side effects – such as, extreme levels of nausea or drowsiness – it is highly recommended to call 911 if you are living in the US. If you are a Canadian resident, you are advised to get in touch with a local poison control center in your province.
Other measures to be taken before you consume celexa
As the drug may trigger arrhythmia – i.e., irregular heartbeats, you need to keep your doctor informed about prior cardiac conditions. Also, inform your treating doctor if your family’s clinical history includes conditions such as hepatic dysfunction, ulcers in intestines, eye problems, mood swings, suicidal instincts and internal bleeding. It is necessary to tell about habits such as drinking alcohol as well as about other treatment plans you may currently be pursuing.
In sum, depression is a common mental health condition. It may show up in different ways based on your gender and age. Hence, the signs of depression among children or younger adults are different from those seen among adults. Also, the symptoms seen in women are different from those men display. This mental health condition may be treated with antidepressants, antipsychotics or anxiety reducers. Celexa is a commonly prescribed antidepressant. It is categorized under a family of medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Its key function is to balance the level of serotonin in the brain.
Most common side effects of celexa include weariness, excessive sweating, blurring of vision, dehydration (dryness of mouth) and nausea. Most people report no major reactions. Very rare but serious side effects are convulsions, irregular or fast heartbeats, vomiting, etc. If you are experiencing very severe side effects like extreme levels of drowsiness or fainting you need to quickly call 911 in the US or a local poison control center if you are in Canada.
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.
